Little bit o' Mesquite

[Shannon Grizzell]

A few weeks ago, my parents lost an entire mesquite tree. The tree just got too heavy and all I think all the rain softened the soil to the degree it just couldn't hold it up any longer.

So, last weekend we made a trip down to visit and brought back a few choice pieces. Couldn't let it all become fire wood. The piece on the right is actually part of the root. I'm hoping it has some good figure - after I clean all the mud off.

Thanks for looking!

[George Guadiane]

I think that stuff might be diseased, especially that "piece on the right." Better let me come and pick it up...
It would be a long trip for me, but I gotta "help out" my friends.

[Bernie Weishapl]

That is quite a gloat. I really love turning mesquite. You ought to have some good turnings there.

[Steve Schlumpf]

Looks like some serious wood Shannon! Looking forward to seeing what you turn out of it!

[Mark Cothren]

Congrats! Can't wait to see what comes out of that root piece!!

[Ed Scolforo]

Oh yea, that root piece should have some goof stuff inside

[Pat Doble]

Nice score. Nothin' better than free wood in the back of your pickup.

[joe greiner]

Yes indeed. Not much better than stumps for wild and crazy grain. Quick to spalt in some species though, so seal it and store above ground under cover. Or turn some of it now; warping will be all over the place anyway.

Joe

[Shannon Grizzell]

George, mighty nice of you to be so willing to help!

Since my original post, I've cleaned the mud off the root piece and carved it up a little bit. It turns out that there was a large hollow, about 6-8" in diameter in the center with three large branches growing around that. I've cut it up basically into thirds and sealed it. It does have some pretty wild grain, so I'm looking forward to getting some of it on the lathe. I'll be sure to post some pics of the end results.

A couple of the other pieces from this haul have inspired me to do some (gasp!!!!) flat work. I'll post some pictures of that over in the other section of SMC when I finish.

[Nancy Laird]

It does have some pretty wild grain, so I'm looking forward to getting some of it on the lathe. I'll be sure to post some pics of the end results.

A couple of the other pieces from this haul have inspired me to do some (gasp!!!!) flat work. I'll post some pictures of that over in the other section of SMC when I finish.

And we are looking forward to seeing the pics of the end results.

By the way, I had a post edited by a mod because I used "flat work" in the post--I put it in as f___work and it was taken as an expletive. After I explained to the mod what it stood for, I re-edited and it has stayed. Some of these turners are just not very understanding .

Nancy (134 days)